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This strategy is a important strategy that students in the upper K-5 grades can use while they are learning new material. This method allows students to take notes in a more individualized way for them. At the beginning of the lesson, the teacher gives each student a big piece of paper. On this paper, the students can write down things they think is important from the lesson. They can arrange the material in a way that makes sense to them and they can reference at a later time. The visual above is a rough example of what a mind map can look like. Though, students will most likely be writing theirs instead of typing it. This method of breaking apart the information being taught to them will help them pay attention more. Students will be able to remember material better when they listen and write it on their own terms.

Reflection:
This strategy is best for the upper grades. Although, it could be used in the lower grades but would need some modifications. For example, drawing pictures for things instead of writing. I learned that there are different ways to take notes for students. It individualizes the students note taking to make it just for them because they can do whatever they want to best remember the content. This would be best implemented during content heavy lessons so that the students can see it broken apart. This promotes inquiry and thinking critically because it allows students to reference back to the material and possibly compare their mind maps with their classmates. By comparing, this promotes academic conversations amongst peers. Possible ways to differentiate could be:
-Allowing students to type notes on a I-Pad or computer.
-Use voice typing for students using electronics.
-Have a mind map pre-written for students that can not write.

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(Also known as Mind Mapping, Concept Mapping, Spray Diagrams, and Spider Diagrams)

Have you ever studied a subject or brainstormed an idea, only to find yourself with pages of information, but no clear view of how it fits together?

This is where Mind Mapping can help.

Mind Mapping is a useful technique that supports learning, improves information recording, shows how different facts and ideas are related, and enhances creative problem solving. Read on to find out more.

Click here to view a transcript of this video.

About Mind Maps

Mind Maps were popularized by author and consultant, Tony Buzan. They use a two-dimensional structure, instead of the list format conventionally used to take notes. This makes information easier to remember, as it's held in a format that our minds find easy to recall and quick to review.

A good Mind Map shows the "shape" of the subject, the relative importance of individual points, and the ways in which facts relate to one another. Research shows that this is of particular benefit when dealing with complex information, such as during business planning and strategy development.

Mind Maps are more compact than conventional notes, and often take up just one side of paper. This helps you to make associations and to generate new ideas. You can also add new information easily, even to a Mind Map that you've already drawn.

Mind Mapping can also help you to break down large projects or topics into manageable chunks, so that you can plan effectively without getting overwhelmed and without forgetting something important.

What Can I Use Mind Maps For?

Mind Maps are useful for:

Brainstorming - individually, and as a group.

Summarizing information.

Taking notes.

Consolidating information from different sources.

Thinking through complex problems.

Presenting information clearly.

Studying and memorizing information.

Mind Maps are also good for refreshing information in your mind. When you commit the shape and structure of a Mind Map to memory, you can often get the cues you need to remember the information it contains just by glancing quickly at the Map. Studies have shown that this makes them highly valuable when you're learning a language, for example.

You can really get inventive with Mind Maps, so they are great for boosting creativity, too. When you include colors, images or drawings, they can even resemble a work of art!

How to Draw a Basic Mind Map

To draw a Mind Map, follow these five steps:

Step 1. Write the title of the subject or project that you're exploring in the center of a page and draw a circle around it, as shown in figure 1, below.

(Our simple example shows a Mind Map of the actions needed to deliver a successful presentation.)

Figure 1.

Step 2. Draw lines out from this circle as you think of subheadings of the topic or important facts or tasks that relate to your subject. Label these lines with your subheadings. (See figure 2, below.)

Figure 2.

Step 3. Dive deeper into the subject to uncover the next level of information (related sub-topics, tasks or facts, for example). Then, link these to the relevant subheadings. (See figure 3, below.)

Figure 3.

Step 4. Repeat the process for the next level of facts, tasks and ideas. Draw lines out from the appropriate headings and label them, as shown in figure 4, below.

Figure 4.

Step 5. As you discover new information or think of additional tasks, add them to your Mind Map in the appropriate places.

A complete Mind Map may have main topic lines radiating in all directions from the center, with sub-topics forking off these like branches and twigs from the trunk of a tree. You don't need to worry about the structure you produce - this will evolve of its own accord.

Tip:

While drawing Mind Maps by hand is appropriate in many cases, software tools and apps like Coggle, Bubbl.us, Mindmeister, MindGenius, iMindMap, and Mindjet can improve the process by helping you to produce high-quality Mind Maps, which you can then easily edit or redraft.

Using Mind Maps Effectively

Once you understand how to take notes in the Mind Map format, you can develop your own conventions for taking them further. The following suggestions can help you to get the most from your Mind Maps:

Use Single Words or Uncomplicated Phrases - Keep things simple. In Mind Maps, single strong words and short, meaningful phrases can convey the same meaning more potently. Excess words just clutter a Mind Map.

Print Words - They will be easier to read than joined-up or indistinct writing.

Use Color to Separate Different Ideas - Color can help to show the organization of the subject. It can also make your Mind Map a more appealing document, and help you to visualize the different sections of your Mind Map for future recall.

Use Symbols and Images - Pictures can help you to remember information more effectively than words, so use symbols or pictures that mean something to you, use it. (You can use photo libraries like iStock to source images inexpensively.)

Using Cross-Linkages - Information in one part of a Mind Map may relate to another part, so draw lines to show these cross-linkages. This will help you to see how one part of the subject affects another.

Visual Example

Click on the thumbnail below for a great example of a Mind Map with high visual impact:

Key Points

Mind Mapping is a powerful note-taking method. Mind Maps not only highlight important facts, but also show the overall structure of a subject and the relative importance of individual parts of it.

They are great when you need to think creatively, and can help you to make new connections between ideas. This is useful when you have problems to solve.

To use Mind Maps effectively, it's best to print your words, to use different colors (to add visual impact), and to incorporate symbols and images to spur creative thinking.

If you do any form of research or note taking, try experimenting with Mind Maps. You'll love using them!

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Mind Maps®: - A Powerful Approach to Note-Taking

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Have you ever studied a subject or brainstormed an idea, only to find yourself with pages of information, but no clear view of how it fits together? This is where Mind Mapping can help. Mind Mapping is a useful technique that supports learning, improves information recording, shows how different facts and ideas are related, and enhances creative problem solving.

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This teaching strategy has the students broken up into groups. Each group of students have special knowledge on a topic; thus being called "sages". The teacher then proceeds to ask the class if anyone could explain a certain topic. "Those students with knowledge (the sages) stand and spread out in the room" (Norris, 2012). As shown in the model I created with the smiley faces, each group member explains their topic to the others in their group. These groups should have 1 person from each topic area. This allows the other group members to learn from their peers.

Reflection:
This strategy is an awesome way to make students engage in academic discussions. They will be working together to discuss their topics. To me, this form of teaching has a huge impact on students for the reason that they are learning from their peers. This promotes inquiry because of the manner for which the material is being taught. Students are more likely to share their opinion to a smaller group of their peers than the whole class. This strategy would probably work good for grades K-5. This would be best implemented with discussion based curriculum. Possible ways to differentiate could be:
-Placing higher level thinkers with lower.
-Have "sages" be pairs.

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This strategy is has students broken into equal groups in the classroom, as shown above. Students are asked to come up with a reenactment of a scene from the text or material provided. After a given amount of time to plan the teacher will say "freeze". All motion will stop and the groups will be still like a statue. "Then, one at a time, each group is asked to 'Come alive'. They add dialogue and movement to bring the text to life" (TKI). This makes the curriculum a fun and engaging activity to learn or review course material.

Reflection:
This strategy is an awesome way for students to learn new information from their peers. From this teaching strategy, I learned that there are fun and inventive ways to teach Social Studies curriculum. Children are often hesitant for their interest of the subject, which makes this strategy a game changer. I think this method would be best as a review of material. Reenacting events like: the signing of the Declaration of Independence, The Boston Tea Party, or even Martin Luther King's speech. This method promotes inquiry because it allows students to put their spin and interpretation on the material being taught. This can open up classroom discussion on the manner for which the students present their topic. Possible ways to differentiate could be:
-Placing higher level students with struggling students.
-Giving specific topics to specfic groups.
-Give certain perimeters to each group.

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Freeze frames / Cooperative learning / Teaching strategies / Effective teaching in social studies / Teaching and learning / Social studies (years 1-10) / Social Sciences Online - eZSSOL

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Give each group a prepared piece of sequenced text (for example, this piece of text on the ascent of Everest). The students then re-create the scene to match the text. When groups are ready, the teacher calls 'Freeze' and all activity must stop. Then, one at a time, each group is asked to 'Come alive'.